Fall-Blooming Perennials

Great gardens are colorful throughout the growing season. Many perennials can be grown in Iowa to provide flowers and interest year after year in late summer and fall. These perennials are great additions to the Iowa garden to get plenty of late-season blooms.

rattlesnake master (Eryngium yuccifolium)
rattlesnake master (Eryngium yuccifolium)
false sunflower (Heliopsis helianthoides)
false sunflower (Heliopsis helianthoides)

Late Season Perennial Flowers

Common and Scientific Name Light Height/Width (feet) Flower Color Nativity Notes
corydalis (Pseudofumaria lutea) Part to Full Shade 1'-1.5'/1'-1.5' yellow Europe  
coral bells (Heuchera) Full Sun to Part Shade 0.75'-2'/1'-2' white, pink hybrid many cultivars also have attractive foliage
foamflower (Tiarella) Full to Part Shade 1'-1.5'/1'-2' white, pink North America  
calamint (Calamintha nepeta) Full Sun 1.5'/1.5' white Eurasia highly attractive to pollinators 
pincushion flower (Scabiosa) Full Sun 1.5'-2'/1.5' blue Eurasia  
showy stonecrop (Hylotelephium) Full Sun 1.5'-2'/1.5'-2' pink hybrid  
mountain mint (Pycnanthemum virginianum) Full to Part Sun 2'-3'/1'-1.5' white North America, including parts of Iowa tolerates wet soils
black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) Full Sun 2'-3'/1'-2' yellow North America, including parts of Iowa  
toad lily (Tricyrtis) Part to Full Shade 2'-3'/1.5'-2' pink Asia  
Balloon Flower (Platycodon) Full to Part Sun 2.5'-3'/2' blue, white China, Japan  
white woodland aster (Eurybia divaricatus) Part Shade 2'-4'/1'-2' white North America  
vervain (Verbena stricta) Full to Part Sun 2'-4'/1.5'-2' blue-violet North America, including parts of Iowa  
pink turtlehead (Chelone lyonii) Full to Part Sun 2'-4'/1.5'-2' pink North America  
little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) Full Sun 2'-4'/1.5'-2' purple/bronze North America, including parts of Iowa  
northern sea oats (Chasmanthium latifolium) Full to Part Sun 2'-5'/1'-2' green, tan North America, including parts of Iowa  
ironweed (Vernonia fasciculata) Full Sun 2'-4'/1.5'-3' purple North America, including parts of Iowa  
windflower (Anemone × hybrida) Full to Part Sun 2'-4'/2'-3' white, pink Asia  
monkshood (Aconitum napellus) Full Sun  3'-4'/1'-2' purple Europe  
obedient plant (Physostegia virginiana) Full to Part Sun 3'-4'/2'-3' pink, white North America, including parts of Iowa tolerates wet soils
New York aster (Symphyotrichum novi-belgii) Full Sun 3'-4'/2'-3' violet, white, pink North America attracts butterflies
goldenray (Ligularia dentata) Full to Part Shade 3'-4'/2'-3' yellow China, Japan  
bugbane (Actaea simplex) Full to Part Shade 3'-4'/2'-3' white Asia  
goldenrod (Solidago) Full to Part Sun 0.5'-5'/0.5'-3' yellow North America many species avialble vary widely in size
Indian grass (Sorghastrum nutans) Full SUn 3'-5'/1'-2' tan North America, including parts of Iowa  
gray-headed coneflower (Ratibida pinnata) Full Sun 3'-5'/1.5'-2' yellow North America, including parts of Iowa  
sneezeweed (Helenium autumnale) Full Sun 3'-5'/2'-3' yellow North America, including parts of Iowa  
Russian sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia) Full Sun 3'-5'/2'-4' lavender/blue Asia  
rattlesnake master (Eryngium yuccifolium) Full Sun 4'-5'/2'-3' greenish white North America, including parts of Iowa  
hardy hibiscus (Hibiscus) Full Sun 4'-5'/2'-4' pink, red, white hybrid tolerates wet soils
switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) Full Sun 3'-6'/2'-3' pinkish North America, including parts of Iowa  
false sunflower (Heliopsis helianthoides) Full Sun 3'-6'/2'-4' yellow North America, including parts of Iowa  
boltonia (Boltonia asteroides) Full Sun 5'-6'/2'-4' white, pink North America, including parts of Iowa  
Joe-Pye weed (Eutrochium purpureum) Full Sun 5'-6'/2'-4' pink North America, including parts of Iowa tolerates wet soils
Culver’s root (Veronicastrum virginicum) Full Sun 4'-7'/2'-4' white North America, including parts of Iowa tolerates wet soils
Japanese silver grass (Miscanthus sinensis cultivars) Full Sun 4'-9'/3'-6' silver Asia  
plume grass (Saccharum ravennae, formerly Erianthus ravennae) Full Sun 6'-12'/4'-6' purple-bronze Mediterranean  

More Information

little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium)
little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium)
Russian sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia)
Russian sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia)
monkshood (Aconitum napellus)
monkshood (Aconitum napellus)
pink turtlehead (Chelone lyonii)
pink turtlehead (Chelone lyonii)
ironweed (Vernonia fasciculata)
ironweed (Vernonia fasciculata)
Hardy Hibiscus (Hibiscus Summerific Berry Awesome)
hardy hibiscus (Hibiscus Summerific Berry Awesome)
corydalis (Pseudofumaria lutea)
corydalis (Pseudofumaria lutea)
Joe-Pye weed (Eutrochium purpureum)
Joe-Pye weed (Eutrochium purpureum)
Authors:
Last reviewed:
September 2023